Electromagnetic pulsator valve



Jan. 13, 1948. H. B. REYNOLDS ELECTROMAGNETI C PULSATOR VALVE FiledF'geb. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 13, 19 48. H. B. REYNOLDS 2,434,586

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSATOR VALVE Filed Feb. '6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .frJ! Inventor flamidfi pe z w Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSATOR VALVE Harold B. Reynolds, Oneida, N. Y.

Application February 6, 1945, Serial No. 576,455

4 Claims. (01. 3158) This invention relates to an improvedelectromagnetic pulsator valve for milking machines.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pulsatorvalve of the above kind which is very simple and rugged in construction,easy to take apart for cleaning, and capable of being readily assembledwithout the exercise of special skill or fine adjustments.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and the inventionconsists in the novel form,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described,shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing a pulsatorvalve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on line 33 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end elevational View, with parts broken away and omitted,of the pulsator valve shown in Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present pulsator valve isillustrated as including an elongated cylindricai valve casing 5 of anickel alloy or other non-magnetic material and having readily removableend plugs 6. Trapping of air in the ends of the casing may be preventedby the common expedient of providing these plugs with suitable ventopenings. Intermediate its ends, the casing 5 is provided with a pair ofinlet nipples 1 adapted to be connected by suction tubes 8 with thevacuum spaces of ordinary teat cups, not shown. At a point diametricallyopposite the inlet nipples l, the casing 5 is provided with outand it isnoted that the closure plugs 6 are provided with central inwardlyprojecting stop lugs 52, for a purpose which will presently becomeapparent.

Recipro-cable in casing 5 is a slide valve I3 provided intermediate itsends with a diametrically disposed passage I4. The valve member I3 isalso provided at opposite sides of the passage l4 and equally spacedfrom the latter with right angular passages l5 and [5a. It is noted thatthe valve member I3 is cylindrical and has a snug sliding fit in thecasing 5, relative rotation of the valve member and casing 5 beingsuitably prevented by suitable means, such as a key 16' carried by thecasing and engaging in a longitudinal guide groove l5 of the valvemember l3, as shown in Figure 5. This insures proper position of thevalve member l3 relative to the casing 5 when said valve member isinserted in the latter. It is also pointed out that the plugs '6 are ofthe same diameter as the valve member [3, so that they may be removed topermit removal of the valve member 13 from the casing 5 through eitherend of the latter. It will be noted that the valve includes only onemoving part, and may be readily taken apart for cleaning, as well aseasily assembled without the exercise of special skill or fineadjustments.

It is pointed out that the arrangement of th nipples I and 9 and thepassages l4, l5 and I; is such that when the valve member I 3 is at onelimit of movement, as shown in Figure 3, thepassage l4 connectstransversely aligned ones of the nipples 'l and 9, while the passage 15aconnects the other nipple 1 with an air inlet port i I which opens tothe atmosphere. On the other hand, when the valve member I3 is at itsopposite limit of movement, passage I4 connects the other alignednipples l and '9 and passage l5 places the other nipple 1 incommunication with the atmosphere through the other air inlet port H.The opposite ends of the valve member J3 alternately engage the stoplugs l2 to properly limit the movement of said valve member IS inopposite directions.

The valve member [3 is made partly or wholly of iron or other suitablemagnetic material and is adapted to be alternately attracted to.opposite ends of the casing 5 by means of magnetic coils I5 and Iliaprovided on opposite ends of the easing 5. Obviously, if the casing 5were of magnetic material, energization of the coils would not cause thedesired movement of the valve member. Any suitable means may be providedto alternately energize and de-energize the coils l6 and I 611 so as toeffect the desired reciprocation of valve member l3. Examples of suchmeans are numerous in the prior art, and specific illustration ordescription of the same is unnecessary herein.

It is suficient to say that corresponding sides of the coils I6 and lfiamay be connected to a common return wire l1, while the other sides ofthe coils may be provided with separate feed wires l8 and |8a leadingfrom a suitable circuit maker and breaker. It will be understood, ofcourse, that the ordinary means is provided to maintain a partial vacuumin the suction line with which the tubes l communicate.

Assuming that the circuit maker and breaker and the vacuum pump or themilking machine are set in operation, the circuit maker and breakercauses the coils l6 and Ilia to be alternately and intermittentlyenergized and de-energized. When the valve member I3 is moved to theposition of Figure 3, suction is had in one tube 8 from the associatedtube l 0, through the nipples l and 9 to which they are connected, andthe associated passage l4. At the same time, the other tubeB and nipple1 are placed in communication with the atmosphere by way of passage la,thus relievin the suction in the last-named tube 8. The

valve member 13 is then moved tothe opposite end of the casing 5 so thatthe first-named tube 8- is placed in communication with. the atmos-Dherc by way of passage 15 and the second tube 8 is placed incommunication. with its tube by passage [4. Suction is thus alternatelyhad in the respective tubes 8, sothat the flexible inner walls of theteat cups are alternately'expanded and contracted andmilk is supplied tothe milk receptacle alternately from-one-teat cup and then from theother.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction andoperation, as well as the advantages of the-present invention, will bereadily understood andappreciated by those skilled in the art. Minorchanges in details of construction illustrated" and described arecontemplated, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scopeof theinvention asclaimed.

What, Iclaim is:

1. An. electromagnetic pulsator valve for milking machines, comprisin acylindrical non-magnetic casinghaving lateral'inlet and outlet nip- D165and provided at apoint between said nipples with a lateralair inletport, tubes for respectively connecting the inlet and, outlet nipples toa teat cup and a suction line, a cylindrical magnetic slide, valvereciprocable in said casing and having transverse passages arrangedtorespectively connect said nipples and to place the inlet nipple incommunication with the air inlet port when the valve member is at itsopposite limits of movement, and magnetic. coils carried by and disposedabout opposite ends of said casing and adapted to be alternatelyenergized amide-energized for reciprocating said valve, member.

2. An electromagnetic pulsator valve for milking machines, comprising acylindrical non-magnetic casing having lateral inlet and outlet nipplesand provided at a point between said nipples with a lateral air inletport, tubes for respectively connecting the inlet and outlet nipples toa teat cup and a suction line, a cylindrical magnetic slide valvereciprocable in said casing and having transverse passages arranged torespectively connect said nipples. and to place the inlet nipple incommunication withthe air-inlet port when the valve member is at itsopposite limits of movement, and magnetic coils carried by and disposedabout opposite ends of said casing and adapted to be alternatelyenergized and de-energized for reciprocating said valve member,removable closure plugs in opposite ends of the casing permittingremoval of the valve member from the casing through either end of thelatter, and central inwardly projecting stop lugs for the valve membercarried by said closure plugs.

3. An electromagnetic pulsator valve for milking machines, comprising acylindrical non-magnetic casing having lateral inlet and outlet nipplesand provided at a point between said nipples with a lateral air inletport, tubes for respectively connecting the inlet and outlet nipples toa teat cup and a suction line, a cylindrical magnetic slide valvereciprocable in said casing and having diametric and angular transversepassages arranged to respectively connect said nipples and to place theinlet nipple in communication with the air inlet port when the valvemember is at its opposite limits of movement, and magnetic coils carriedby and disposed about opposite ends of said casing and adapted to bealternately energized and de-energized for reciprocating. said valvemember, and means to prevent relative rotation of the valve member andthecasing.

4. An electromagnetic pulsator valve for milking machines, comprising a.tubular non-magnetic casing of uniform cross section from. end to end,said casing having pairs of lateral inlet and outlet nipples andprovided at points between the nipples of each pair with a lateral airinlet port, removable plugs in the ends of said casing, tubes forrespectively connecting the inlet nipples with teat cups and the outletnipples with a suction line, a slide valve reciprocable in the casingand formed of magnetic material, said slide valve having an intermediatetransverse passage alternately adapted to connect the respective pairsof inlet and outlet nipples when the valve member is reciprocated, saidvalve member further having angular transverse passages at oppositesides of the first-named passage arranged to connect each inlet nipplewith an air inlet port when the other inlet nipple is'connected with itsassociated outlet nipple, and magnetic coils disposed about oppositeends of the casing and adapted to be alternately energized andde-energized for reciprocating said valve member.

HAROLD B. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 942,482 Burrell Dec. 7, 1909961,960 Hicks June 21, 1910 1,030,010 Newell, June 18, 1912 1,405,104Daysh eta]. ..l...Jan. 31, 1922 1,413,546 Warner u-.. Apr. 8, 19221,452,600 Hapgoocl .1- Apr. 24, 1923 1,885,110 Hulbert Nov. 1, 1932'

